History of the European Championship 1976 to 1996

History of the European Championship 1976 to 1996

21. European Championship 1976

Port Camargue, France, April 30-May 8

45 entries, from 19 countries

From the beginning the defender Serge Maury proved that he was not willing to give the title away too easily. After three races he was leading overall scoring 2-2-7. Serge was lucky when the time limit expired and his challengers Mauro Pelaschier and Andrei Balashov had only 150 meters to go and he himself was at the end of the fleet. When that race was re-sailed the wind disappeared after the first boats had finished. Nine boats failed to come in on time - including Serge. However line honours and runner-up in the two last races made everything clear in favour of Serge Maury.

Final Results 1976

1. Serge Maury F 721 22.0

2. Andrei Balashov SR 2 56.0

3. Gus Miller US 975 67.7

4. Mauro Pelaschier I 509 72.0

5. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 76.0

6. Joaquin Blanco E 101 76.0

7. Pierre Mondéteguy F 719 81.0

8. José Luis Doreste E 109 83.7

9. Werner Sülberg G 1611 90.7

10. Jean J. Grandchamp F 720 91.7

11. Richard Grönblom L 171 95.7

12. John Bertrand KA 151 96.0

13. Guy Liljegren S 655 96.7

14. Andreas Haan M 11 107.0

15. Gerardo Seeliger E 99 108.0

16. Sanford Riley KC 143 108.0

17. Ryszard Blaszka PZ 56 116.0

18. J-P. Boumans B 1 118.7

19. Jürgen Wolff DDR 29 119.0

20. Anastas Boudouris GR 176 123.0

21. Chris Law K 321 124.0

22. Thomas Jungblut G 1556 126.0

22. European Championship 1977

Istambul-Yesilyurt, Turkey, July 26-August 5

34 entries from 17 countries

Gilbert Lamboley as the Chairman of the IFA Technical Committee came to help the Turkish measurers to find out that there were still a lot of Finn sailers who dislike stembands. However all boats got a dispensation and from that time on the arrangement declared to be illegal in Istanbul became common practice all over the world.

Final Results 1977

1. Joaquin Blanco E 1 32.7

2. Minski Fabris Y 53 42.0

3. Peter Vollebregt H 535 52.4

4. Kent Carlsson S 677 53.7

5. David Howlett K 421 54.4

6. Andrei Balashov SR 2 60.4

7. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 66.7

8. Wolfgang Gerz G 1573 79.0

9. Ryszard Skarbinski PZ 28 83.0

10. H.G. Ehlers G 1572 88.7

23. European Championship 1978

Marstrand Sweden, August 24-September 2

54 entries, from 24 countries

The wind was strong to very strong for most of the week and the waves breathtaking even for the most experienced stalwarts. Super Skipper Howlett did not believe it, until the globe capsized below him while he claimed to remain upright. Kent Carlsson was disqualified for a too heavy weight jacket. The last decisive race had only light wind but a strong current. Minski Fabris cleared all doubts by winning this one too, after he had been superior in the heavy air previously. The Vanguard hulls were judged to be fast in the light to medium conditions and the Taylors were better in the rough weather.

Final Results 1978

1. Minski Fabris Y 53 16.0

2. Joaquin Blanco E 1 26.7

3. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 57.4

4. R. Güldenpfening DDR 21 62.7

5. Chris Law K 321 68.7

6. Kent Carlsson S 677 72.7

7. Stewart Neff US 1004 78.0

8. José Luis Doreste E 109 84.0

9. David Howlett K 463 89.0

10. Wolfgang Gerz G 1573 91.0

11. John Bertrand US 1007 93.0

12. Guy Liljegren S 516 93.7

13. Egidio Babbi I 619 98.0

14. Otto Pohlmann G 1650 101.4

15. Jörgen Lindhardtsen D 126 104.0

16. Jacques Busquet F 723 104.0

17. Ryszard Skarbinski PZ 122 108.0

18. Marc Neeleman H 555 115.0

19. Jaques Rogge B 2 115.0

20. Peter Lester KZ 191 125.7

21. Levent Özgen TK 71 134.0

22. James Reynolds KC 996 136.0

23. Manuel Doreste E 9 139.0

24. Patrick Spängs S 666 142.0

25. August Miller US 975 144.0

24. European Championship 1979

Malcesine, Lago di Garda, Italy, June 1-10

44 entries from 23 countries

The measurement was clouded by the start of the station 8 problem. A confusing variety of winds from all sort of strange directions, durability and force blurred the chaotic conditions. The only sailor who preserved orientation was the ruling world champion John Bertrand from the United States, winning the last three races after he had already scored 4/6/6.

Final Results 1979

1. John Bertrand US 1037 19.7

2. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 43.0

3. Kent Carlsson S 679 50.0

4. Minski Fabris Y 53 62.0

5. Jörg Vetter DDR 12 63.4

6. Cameron Lewis US 1027 66.7

7. José Luis Doreste E 109 77.0

8. Magnus Liljedahl S 589 80.7

9. Otto Pohlmann G 1650 86.7

10. Ched Proctor US 171 91.7

11. Elias Hatzipavlis GR 180 94.0

12. Thomas Jungblut G 1 95.0

13. Jacques Rogge B 2 103.0

14. Josef Senkyr CZ 303 104.0

15. Graham Deegan KZ 185 106.0

16. Mark Neeleman H 555 106.7

17. Yves Silvestro F 731 114.7

18. Egidio Babbi I 633 120.0

19. Filip Willems B 15 123.0

20. Wolfgang Mayrhofer OE 199 130.0

21. Sergei Khoretski SR 23 132.0

22. Esko Rechardt L 183 132.0

23. Miroslav Lostak CZ 377 134.0

24. Andrea Roost Z 9 138.0

25. Boris Zakhorow SR 3 139.0

25. European Championship 1980

Helsinki, Finland, June 10-18

37 entries from 23 countries

As the last dress rehearsal for the Olympic Games to be held shortly in Tallinn, the 1980 European Championship was sailed in Helsinki in very similar conditions. Because of the early Gold Cup in New Zealand, there was also a second extraordinary AGM of the IFA on that occasion. Chris Law tried a Vanguard and found it easier to sail and faster than his standard Taylor. Chris Law already had a big points lead when he started the 6th race in light winds. Chris finished 12th and was the sure 1980 European Champion. In the last race Bertrand decided the battle for the runner-up in his favour against Balashov.

Final Results 1980

1. Chris Law K 321 32.4

2. John Bertrand US 1037 50.7

3. Andrei Balashov SR 2 56.4

4. Mark Neeleman H 555 67.7

5. José Luis Doreste E 109 69.0

6. Guy Liljegren S 686 73.7

7. Sergei Khoretski SR 23 79.7

8. Kent Carlsson S 679 83.0

9. Wolfgang Mayrhofer OE 199 96.7

10. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 99.7

11. Martin van Leeuwen H 565 101.0

12. Skarbinski PZ 7 102.0

13. Esko Rechardt L 185 104.7

14. Michael Nissen G 1706 105.0

15. Wolfgang Gerz G 1573 107.0

16. KZ 2 128.0

17. Miroslav Rychcik PZ 75 129.0

18. Keirsblick B 24 131.0

26. European Championship 1981

Athens, Greece, May 23-June 1

46 entries from 22 countries

Five races were sailed in southerly winds with force 3-4 and two with a north wind up to force 7. Everybody was satisfied with the organisation. The only grumbling was heard after the third race when the jury disqualified 11 boats for that old canard of pumping and rocking. All of a sudden, an up to now mediocre former Laser sailor from Denmark shocked the established skippers by winning each and every race. Lasse Hjortnäs managed for the first and most likely last time to win the European Championship with a score of 0.0.

Final Results 1981

1. Lasse Hjortnäs D 143 0.0

2. Jörgen Lindhardtsen D 142 49.7

3. Otto Pohlmann G 1787 70.7

4. Martin Pallson S 684 75.4

5. S. Khoretski SR 23 79.5

6. Wolfgang Gerz G 1573 79.7

7. Oleg Khoperski SR 23 85.7

8. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 85.7

9. Joaquin Blanco E 1 94,7

10. Michael Nissen G 1795 99.4

11. Wolfgang Mayrhofer OE 199 105.0

12. Mark Neeleman H 555 107.4

13. Martin Van Leeuwen H 565 123.7

14. Henryk Blaszka PZ 6 125.0

15. Thomas Oljelund S 681 129.0

16. Francisco De Angelis I 655 137.0

17. Miroslav Rychcik PZ 75 139.0

18. Lennart Persson S 680 141.0

19. Thomas Schmid G 1749 143.0

20. Paolo Semeraro I 666 144.0

21. Patrick Spängs S 685 145.0

22. José Maria v d Ploeg E 145 146.0

23. Istvan Rujak M 200 154.0

24. Peter Vollebregt H 535 163.0

25. Roberto Benamati I 658 180.0

27. European Championship 1982

Masnou, Spain, September 25-October 3

67 entries from 23 countries

After a disappointing Gold Cup in Holland the top sailors unanimously went to Spain hoping for more wind. There was more wind but also a strong current and on the first day an ugly oil pollution on the water. In the third race the jury disqualified six prominent skippers because of pumping. The selection was not so much based on serious observations but rather exemplary and included Lasse Hjortnäs. After he had won the Gold Cup by a safe margin, Lasse took this European Championship with three times line honour and twice runner-up, discarding that annoying DSQ. After the magic black-top mast Lasse had used in his fabulous 1981 season had been stolen, he made the red-top presentable at court, by winning with 10% of the final score of the runner-up Mark Neeleman.

Final Results 1982

1. Lasse Hjortnäs D 143 6.0

2. Mark Neeleman H 555 65.0

3. Thomas Schmid G 1793 73.7

4. Nikolai Soukhoroukow SR 14 74.7

5. Mike McIntyre K 491 75.0

6. Wolfgang Gerz G 1573 76.0

7. Luc Choley F 100 91.0

8. Henryk Blaszka PZ 6 95.0

9. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 96.0

10. Esko Rechardt L 203 95.4

11. Jörgen Lindhardtsen D 142 100.0

12. Don Nordquist S 690 102.7

13. Oleg Khoperski SR 21 103.7

14. Joaquin Blanco E 179 105.7

15. Otto Pohlmann G 1787 110.7

16. Toni Ferrer E 170 112.0

17. Wolfgang Mayrhofer OE 199 116.0

18. Stefan Myralf D 148 119.0

19. José Maria van der Ploeg E 145 121.7

20. Paolo Semeraro I 655 128.7

21. Patrick Spängs S 685 129.0

22. Juan E. Mägli GU 1 133.0

23. Martin Palsson S 684 133.0

24. Francois Le Castrec F 888 139.0

25. Sjaak Haakman H 577 141.0

26. Karsten Kaufmann G 1706 146.0

27. Frank Butzmann DDR 16 147.0

28. Andy Pimental US 1052 151.0

29. Miroslav Rychcik PZ 75 151.0

30. Kimo Worthington US 1066 157.0

28. European Championship 1983

Neusiedlersee, Austria, June 3-11

63 entries from 24 countries

Lasse Hjortnäs came to Austria determined to defend his title as the ruling European Champion of 1981/82. There were five races with a strong shifty force 4-7 wind on three days. There would have been enough for a sixth race on the afternoon of the third day, but the race committee took pity on the worn out second half of the fleet. Lasse caught a DSQ in the second race but for the rest of them he was not content with less than the runner-up in the heavy-air races. However finally there was very little reliable wind and Hjortnäs collected 59 points, which he had to count since he had to discard his DSQ. Another second place in the last race was not enough to save him. So Jochen Schümann from the DDR won the title without ever winning a race, scoring 2/3/4/8/9/10.

Final Results 1983

1. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 61.7

2. Frank Butzmann DDR 16 70.4

3. Lasse Hjortnäs D 143 71.0

4. Jörgen Lindhardtsen D 142 74.4

5. Mark Neeleman H 555 78.4

6. Kimo Worthington US 1066 97.0

7. Thomas Schmid G 1793 100.1

8. Peter Vilby D 146 106.0

9. Craig Healy US 1041 108.0

10. Nikolai Soukhoroukow SR 14 114.0

11. Oleg Khoperski SR 21 114.7

12. Larry Lemieux KC 201 126.0

13. Francois le Castrec F 888 129.0

14. Joaquin Blanco E 179 142.0

15. Wolfgang Mayrhofer OE 199 144.0

16. Sergej Khoretski SR 23 156.0

17. Roberto Benamati I 658 160.0

18. Martin Palsson S 684 162.0

19. Henryk Blaszka PZ 6 162.0

20. Tom Lehan US 1070 164.0

21. Sjaak Haakman H 577 168.0

22. Eric Bornarel F 115 173.0

23. Jacek Sobkowiak PZ 7 175.0

24. Francisco De Angelis I 509 181.0

25. Carl Johan Hedberg S 697 184.0

26. Ron Van Manen H 616 187.0

27. Patrick Spängs S 685 188.0

28. Fillip Willems B 15 188.0

29. Marko Prancevic Y 90 190.7

30. Luc Choley F 100 191.0

29. European Championship 1984

Wladislawowo, Poland, June 5-15

35 entries from 17 countries

The entire championship was chaotic but certainly not boring. Although Andy Zawieja warned the participants to avoid a dangerous breakwater at the harbour entrance, gold-medalist Esko Rechardt and co-favourite Lasse Hjortnäs sailed right into the monsters mouth and suffered dearly. Lasse broke his best mast and returned home to look for a new one for the Olympics. Esko was seriously injured.

Racing was also chaotic with shifts and holes in the wind and fog and what have you. But there was also a lot of fine wind and a deserving winner overall: Mike McIntyre from the United Kingdom. Peter Vilby as the runner-up overall with two race wins proved that Denmark had an unexhaustable supply of good sailors - with daddy-cool Lindhardtsen remaining at home, since he had not qualified.

Final Results 1984

1. Mike McIntyre K 491 19.0

2. Peter Vilby D 146 39.7

3. Jacek Sobkowiak PZ 7 41.0

4. Mark Neeleman H 555 50.4

5. Henryk Blaszka PZ 6 61.4

6. Roddy Bridge K 493 64.0

7. Miroslav Rychcik PZ 75 65.0

8. Russell Silvestri US 1074 66.0

9. Paolo Semeraro I 6 73.7

10. Jochen Schümann DDR 9 75.7

11. Thomas Oljelund S 700 76.0

12. Arnoud Hummel H 577 85.0

13. Jaroslaw Maciuk PZ 52 95.7

14. Fillip Willems B 15 96.7

15. Roberto Benamati I 658 100.0

16. Chris Pratt KA 183 108.0

17. Ron Van Manen H 616 108.0

18. Tomasz Rumszewicz PZ 77 115.7

19. Eric Mergenthaler MX 33 115.7

20. Heike Birke DDR 19 121.0

30. European Championship 1985

Athens, Greece, September 7-15

43 entries from 17 countries

Lasse Hjortnäs, usually training in cold to freezing water, obviously liked the warm Mediterranean Sea. Ever since he came into the Finn Class, whenever the Europeans are in that water, he can’t be stopped. Athens was the site of his biggest victory in 1981 when he won with zero points, and in Masnou he had a mere 6.0. In 1985 again in Athens, Lasse only collected 17.0 which is not so bad in contrast to the runner-up Lindhardtsen with 35.4 and third Vilby 42.4. After Gold, Silver, and Bronze had gone to Sweden in 1969, the Danish team managed the same trick in 1985 to demoralise the rest of the world.

Final Results 1985

1. Lasse Hjortnäs D 143 17.0

2. Jörgen Lindhardtsen D 142 35.4

3. Peter Vilby D 156 42.4

4. Oleg Khoperski SR 21 45.4

5. Peter Peet H 630 46.7

6. Paolo Semeraro I 716 52.1

7. Arnoud Hummel H 577 62.7

8. Stuart Childerley K 503 78.7

9. Thomas Schmid G 1793 83.0

10. Henryk Blaszka PZ 6 86.0

11. Jacek Sobkowiak PZ 7 89.0

12. Michael Luschan OE 211 94.0

13. Eric Mergenthaler MX 33 95.0

14. Ralf Kadenbach G 1880 104.0

15. Jaroslav Maciuk PZ 52 109.0

16. Josef Pirsch G 1843 115.0

17. Ron van Manen H 631 115.0

18. Marco Passoni I 707 116.0

19. Enrico Passoni I 722 117.0

20. Armando Ortolano GR 211 120.0

31. European Championship 1986

Hyeres, France, April 29-May 7

45 entries from 21 countries

Held immediately after the pre-Olympic week in Hyeres, the Finns stayed on for another week. In the first race, the force 1-2 allowed John Hofland line honours, but caused 8 boats to be disqualified for violating rule 54. Johan Hedberg took the early lead and lead up to race 6, but a 30th in that race dropped him to second. Oleg Khoperski who performed with outstanding harmony between man and nature won races 3, 4 and 5 came 3rd in the 6th and covered Hedberg in the final race to take the Championship by 23.0 points. After the 4th race there were some scandals because of the 20 kg weight limit on wet clothing and the attempt of some sailors to secretly get rid of some of their equipment on the way home, but only one helm was disqualified.

Final Results 1986

1. Oleg Khoperski SR 21 37.7

2. Johan Hedberg S 700 60.7

3. Heiko Birke DDR 19 68.7

4. Stig Westergaard D 155 80.0

5. Frank Butzmann DDR 16 88.0

6. John Cutler KZ 234 103.0

7. Paolo Semeraro I 6 104.7

8. Jacek Sobkowiak PZ 7 113.7

9. Jörgen Lindhardtsen D 142 115.7

10. Ralf Kadenbach G 6 116.7

11. Welf-Bodo Lixenfeld G 1706 119.0

12. Peter Vilby D 156 119.7

13. Andrei Nikandrov SR 1 121.0

14. Othmar Müller v. Blumencron G 1835 122.0

15. Goran Sandberg S 698 127.7

16. Michael Luschan OE 211 130.0

17. Thomas Schmid G 1793 130.4

18. Emanuele Vaccari I 727 131.7

19. Henryk Blaszka PZ 6 133.0

20. John Hofland H 622 141.0

21. Kristian Sjöberg L 201 143.7

22. Enrico Passoni I 722 152.0

23. Arnoud Hummel H 577 155.0

24. Hans Spitzauer OE 218 155.0

25. Mike Milner KC 4 158.0

32. European Championship 1987

Rungsted, Denmark, August 3-12

48 entries

The event was sailed from the Royal Danish YC just north of Copenhagen in a mixture of conditions. After the usual measurement problems, Peter Vilby won the first two races in force 2-3. In race one the initial winner was disqualified for too carrying much weight. Stuart Childerley led race 3 in less wind until the last mark, when an incident with José Luis Doreste let him through and he had to settle for second. Lawrence Crispin won race 4 after leading the whole way, sometimes by a whole leg. After Otto Strandvig won race 5 and Michael Fisher won race 6, any of 7 helms could have won going into the last race. Arnoud Hummel won the final race but an 8th for Childerley was enough to win the series without winning a race. His lowest race was 15th in this high scoring series.

The event was sailed in wet conditions with a Force 2-4 wind. Most sailors had very inconsistent results throughout the week. Second placed Mergenthaler won the first and fifth race but apart from that never scored above tenth. John Cutler, Mark Neeleman, Armando Ortolano and Henryk Blaszka all won races but were not consistent enough to capitalise. Only one sailor managed a good strong of results. Doreste counted a 2-6-4-4-7 and dropped his 26th in race 5 to win the Europeans, just prior to his Olympic victory in Pusan later that summer.

Helsinki was where it had all started in 1952, and the Finns again went back in 1989. A change in the quota rule allowed the same entries as for a Gold Cup. The event belonged to Hans Spitzauer from the start after he won the first two races. Othmar Müller von Blumencron won the light weather third race and Lauri Rechardt won the fourth, with Spitzauer maintaining his points in second. The fifth race was won by Finnish Jali Makila followed by Rechardt and Mats Caap. Oleg Khoperski had worked out a good lead in the final race, but with thunderstorms around, a massive shift made a nonsense of the final beat and the race committee cancelled the race. This left Spitzauer the overall winner. On the spare day a series of match races were held. Spitzauer and Larry Lemieux reached the final tied and after one win each, no wind and rain stopped play.

Final Results 1989

1. Hans Spitzauer OE 218 14.7

2. Othmar Müller v. Blumencron Z 418 26.0

3. Lauri Rechardt L 185 32.0

4. Mats Caap S 718 41.7

5. Thomas Schmid G 1903 44.4

6. Oleg Khoperski SR 14 51.0

7. Lawrence Lemieux US 1086 57.0

8. Lars Bergenzaun S 698 57.0

9. Jali Makila L 212 59.0

10. Emanuele Vaccari I 727 67.7

11. Stig Westergaard D 155 68.0

12. Hank Lammens KC 19 74.0

13. Peter Aldag G 1993 74.0

14. Mike Milner KC 4 82.0

15. Kristian Sjöberg L 201 83.0

16. Welf-Bodo Lixenfeld G 1706 84.7

17. Otto Strandvig D 146 93.0

18. Farkas Litkey M 161 95.7

19. Nick Jaco KC 13 97.0

20. Fredrik Lööf S 684 98.7

35. European Championship 1990

Hayling Island, England, June 1-9

58 entries from 21 countries

The rather windy conditions seemed to suit two sailors, Stig Westergaard and Hans Spitzauer, and early on the feeling was that one of these two would win the Europeans. Westergaard was superior upwind while Spitzauer was in a class of his own on the reaches; having to catch up 100 m was just a minor problem. Second overall Spitzauer won the first race, final winner Westergaard won races 4 and 5. 3rd place overall went to Othmar Müller von Blumencron who won the 3rd race and the last one, and closed the gap on Spitzauer over the last few races. All boats had undergone thorough measurement checking by Peter Mohilla and as usual the padding manufacturers were clapping their hands! But at least all the boats ended up the same.

Final Results 1990

1. Stig Westergaard D 155 31.4

2. Hans Spitzauer OE 218 46.7

3. Othmar Müller v Blumencron Z 418 49.7

4. Lasse Hjortnäs D 143 72.7

5. Jali Makila L 212 89.0

6. Andre Budzien DDR 7 96.0

7. Bjorn Westergaard D 165 98.0

8. Armando Ortolano GR 211 100.0

9. Peter Aldag G 1920 108.7

10. Thomas Schmid G 1903 115.7

11. Hank Lammens KC 19 124.0

12. Lawrence Lemieux KC 201 130.0

13. Dirk Löwe DDR 16 135.0

14. Bart Zielhuis H 544 135.0

15. Tim Tavinor K 521 135.4

16. Mike Milner KC 4 136.7

17. Brian Ledbetter US 1080 140.7

18. Fredrik Lööf S 684 150.7

19. Lars Bergenzaun S 698 151.0

20. Marco Passoni I 760 153.0

21. Richard Clarke KC 11 153.0

22. Enrico Passoni I 722 160.0

23. Kiko Villalonga E 106 162.0

24. Rob McMillan K 493 179.0

25. Jez Fanstone K 498 179.0

26. Toni Poncell E 12 179.0

27. Mark Oliver KZ 230 193.0

28. Emanuele Vacarri I 727 183.0

29. Roger Schulz G 1984 188.0

30. Richard Lott K 484 188.0

36. European Championship 1991

Anzio, Italy, June 10-18

68 entries from 24 countries

The wind did not often get above 10 knots all week and only in the last race was there the wind and big waves associated with Anzio. Despite being a ‘legend’ Larry Lemieux had yet to win a major title - and he had been trying for 15 years. Apart from a 23rd in race 3, he never scored below 8th place, but also never won a race. José van der Ploeg was leading after three races. Going into the last race, these two were tied on points and even had the same discard. Lemieux lead round the top mark and kept van der Ploeg in his sights during the race to finish third with van der Ploeg in fourth, but it was enough for Lemieux to win his first major Finn title. Kiko Villalonga won two races to finish third overall and a strong finish from Stuart Childerley moved him up to fourth overall.

Final Results 1991

1. Lawrence Lemieux KC 201 39.4

2. José van der Ploeg E 105 41.4

3. Kiko Villalonga E 106 64.0

4. Stuart Childerley K 503 69.0

5. Oleg Khoperski SR 14 89.7

6. Björn Westergaard D 165 121.7

7. Stig Westergaard D 155 135.0

8. Hank Lammens KC 19 136.0

9. Mats Caap S 718 136.0

10. David Himmell US 1066 138.0

11. Enrico Passoni I 722 138.7

12. André Budzien G 70 143.7

13. Arif Gürdenli TK 211 144.0

14. Yuri Tokovoi SR 21 146.7

15. Lasse Hjortnäs D 143 147.0

16. Mike Milner KC 4 153.0

17. Eric Mergenthaler MX 33 155.0

18. Alec Cutler US 1044 157.7

19. Joaquin Blanco E 179 160.0

20. Wlopz. Radwaniecko PZ 6 165.7

21. François Le Castrec F 749 170.7

22. Alexander Rinne G 31 171.0

23. Fredrik Lööf S 684 173.0

24. Pawel Pawlaczyk PZ 7 174.0

25. Michael Fellmann G 1916 174.0

26. Jeremy Fanstone K 498 175.0

27. Anders Lundmark S 700 179.0

28. Emanuele Vaccari I 727 179.0

29. Dirk Löwe G 14 180.0

30. Otto Strandvig D 146 194.0

31. Mark Herrmann US 1026 200.7

32. Philippe Presti F 762 204.0

33. Othmar Müller v Blumencron Z 418 207.0

34. Hans Spitzauer OE 218 212.0

37. European Championship 1992

Gdansk, Poland, June 6-14

51 entries from 24 countries

After two windy and wavy races, Glenn Bourke was going well with two first places but a knee injury put him out of the competition mid way through. The competition was then between Stuart Childerley, Oleg Khoperski and Dirk Löwe. Going into the last race, after the much lighter second half of the regatta, Khoperski lead Childerley by 1.3 points and Löwe was also in with a chance. But after a massive shift just after the start they were all out of it. Khoperski who had retired in the first race could not afford a bad result so struggled on to finish 23rd. This left Childerley as the winner and Löwe in second, enough to win him the German Olympic spot. However, 2 boats ahead of Khoperski were disqualified so he jumped to 0.7 points ahead of Löwe to finish as runner up and cost Löwe the German place at the summer Olympics. Childerley was always consistent and was the rightful winner. Philippe Presti sailed a magnificent regatta to finish 4th after winning the last two races.

Final Results 1992

1. Stuart Childerley K 503 56.4

2. Oleg Khoperski IYRU 14 63.7

3. Dirk Löwe G 14 64.4

4. Philippe Presti F 762 67.0

5. Eric Mergenthaler MX 33 80.0

6. Fredrik Lööf S 684 91.0

7. Luca Devoti I 789 91.4

8. Emanuele Vaccari I 727 93.7

9. François Le Castrec F 748 102.0

10. Hans Spitzauer OE 218 102.7

11. Karlo Kuret CRO 110 102.7

12. Armando Ortolano G 1 110.7

13. Anders Lundmark S 700 111.0

14. Malte Philipp G 25 115.7

15. Arif Gürdenli TK 211 116.0

16. Yuri Tokovoi SR 21 121.0

17. Othmar M v Blumencron Z 418 129.0

18. Enrico Passoni I 722 134.0

19. Conrad Simpson IR 11 141.0

20. Atilla Szilvàssy M 211 145.7

38. European Championship 1993

L’Estartit, Spain, June 3-12

35 entries from 20 countries

For the first time, the event was combined with the Junior European Championship, the juniors started 10 minutes after the Seniors. Stig Westergaard was the convincing winner in his new Devoti boat with a carbon fibre mast. After scoring a series of 2,4,3,1,1 and 2 he did not have to sail the last race. Confusion reigned in the first race when the RC signalled a change in course direction. The top seven went to the wrong finish line while Björn and Stig Westergaard in 8th and 9th sailed to the correct finish line to take 1st and 2nd. Heiner, Presti, Devoti and van der Ploeg filed for average points. In what became known as Heiner’s comedy hour, he put the mark boat’s compass bearing board 60 m away outside the protest room. He then put his car with the headlights on behind it and convinced the Jury that the glare of the sun was why he hadn’t been able to see the new bearing. He won the protest and the four were awarded average points!

Final Results 1993

1. Stig Westergaard DEN 155 19.7

2. José Maria van de Ploeg ESP 105 34.1

3. Hans Spitzauer AUT 1 57.6

4. Björn Westergaard DEN 165 63.7

5. Luca Devoti ITA 789 64.1

6. Philippe Presti FRA 762 64.8

7. Fredrik Lööf SWE 7 65.7

8. Roy Heiner NED 638 68.9

9. Gerd Griegel GER 71 95.7

10. Carl Akerson SWE 700 101.7

11. Xavier Rohart FRA 778 106.0

12. Ville Aalto-Setala FIN 2 106.0

13. Philipp Malte GER 25 108.0

14. Sebastien Godefroid BEL 7 110.0

15. Dirk Löwe GER 14 119.0

16. Emanuele Vaccari ITA 727 127.0

17. John Driscoll IRL 1 130.0

18. James Lyne GBR 503 131.0

19. Michael Fellmann GER 79 133.0

20. Igor Tkachuk UKR 105 134.0

39. European Championship 1994

Çesme, Turkey, July 5-13

34 entries from 17 countries

The ‘94 Europeans took place in the wonderfully warm and sunny waters of Ilica Bay, Çesme. With a NW breeze varying from 6 to 30 knots, a beautiful race course only 15 minutes outside the marina and no one else in the bay except turtles, dolphins and flying fish, this was the perfect location for a major championship. And everyone loved it. The 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist was still looking to win his first Gold Cup or Europeans. He started well with a 2-1-1-3, had his worst race in race 5 with an 8th, then won the 6th and had the luxury of not having to sail the last race. Luca Devoti kept his cool like never before, won three races and finished second.

Final Results 1994

1. José Maria van der Ploeg ESP 16.0

2. Luca Devoti ITA 23.0

3. Fredrik Lööf SWE 30.0

4. Hans Spitzauer AUT 33.0

5. Roy Heiner NED 37.0

6. Mauro Fioretto ITA 39.0

7. Philippe Presti FRA 42.0

8. Xavier Rohart FRA 44.0

9. Michael Maier CZE 44.0

10. Dirk Löwe GER 59.0

11. Arif Gürdenli TUR 61.0

12. Karlo Kuret CRO 72.0

13. Dominik Zycki POL 72.0

14. Mateusz Kusznierewicz POL 78.0

15. Haluk Babacan TUR 80.0

16. Peter Theurer SUI 81.0

17. Sebastien Godefroid BEL 81.0

18. Philippe Rogge BEL 84.0

19. Michael Fellmann GER 88.0

20. Jali Makila FIN 100.0

40. European Championship 1995

Lake Balaton, Hungary, September 10-16

75 entries from 27 countries

The expected weather on Lake Balaton was light winds and big shifts. After a good start to the regatta the wind disappeared, two days were lost and only three races were sailed in the first four days. Then the wind came and two two-race days were sailed. The racing turned into a three-horse-race. Defending champion José Maria van der Ploeg started well with two second places, scored a 17th in the third race then built up a commanding points lead with a 2-7-1 to go into the final race with 13.5 points ahead of Philippe Presti with 19.75 and Fredrik Lööf with 26.75 points. In the last race Lööf needed to win, which he did, but van der Ploeg had done enough to retain his title with an 11th and Presti had slipped to third overall after finishing 20th which he had to count after an earlier 45th.

Final Results 1995

1. José Maria van der Ploeg ESP 105 24.75

2. Fredrik Lööf SWE 7 27.50

3. Philippe Presti FRA 762 39.75

4. Hans Spitzauer AUT 1 54.00

5. Lasse Hjortnäs DEN 143 57.00

6. Xavier Rohart FRA 778 65.75

7. Richard Stenhouse GBR 540 67.00

8. Karlo Kuret CRO 110 71.00

9. Philippe Rogge BEL 2 74.00

10. Michael Fellmann GER 79 84.75

11. Sebastien Godefroid BEL 7 85.00

12. Oleg Khoperski RUS 21 87.00

13. Michael Maier CZE 304 91.00

14. Othmar M v Blumencron SUI 441 91.00

15. Emilios Papathanasiou GRE 6 92.00

16. Yuri Tokovoi UKR 21 94.00

17. Hank Lammens CAN 19 98.00

18. Farkas Litkey HUN 55 99.00

19. Emanuele Vaccari ITA 727 101.00

20. Michalis Papadopoulos GRE 11 105.75

21. Mateusz Kusznierewicz POL 17 108.00

22. Igor Tkachuk UKR 1 110.00

23. Dirk Löwe GER 14 121.00

24. John Driscoll IRL 1 122.00

25. Roman Teply CZE 3 143.00

26. Michael Hruby CZE 479 149.00

27. Gerd Griegel GER 71 152.00

28. Wiebe Schippers NED 696 153.00

29. Peter Theurer SUI 440 154.00

30. Vasco Batista POR 80 168.00

41. European Championship 1996

Hospitalet, Spain, June 7-15

36 entries from 18 countries

The Senior and Junior fleets were combined for the 1996 Championships. Some of the top sailors had already gone to train in Savannah prior to the Olympics but defending champion José Maria van der Ploeg and current World Champion Philippe Presti both decided to start. The races were sailed in light to medium winds coming from the open sea. Van der Ploeg showed his Olympic form again: he never finished worse than third and defended his title in style. He had good speed and let the others make the mistakes in the shifty winds. Runner-up and top Junior Mateusz would go on to win Gold in the Savannah Olympics later that summer.